Over the past century, tattoos have emerged from the underground. From body art's early association with sailors, convicts and side-show acts to the current adoption of tattoo culture amongst celebrities and the mainstream via the tattoo renaissance of the 1970s, this book reveals the entire history.

Combining a wealth of visual material from across the many cultures and sub-cultures we associate with tattoos, including fashion, music and art, with examples of some of the most exquisite tattoos ever inked, the book shows over 400 photographs, many published for the first time.

This is a unique examination of the tattoo as a form of personal expression and an intriguing visual guide to the social and stylistic changes of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. This visual history will appeal to anyone with an interest in body art and social history, and to anyone planning a tattoo.

David McComb has edited a variety of books devoted to the body art scene and was one of the first writers to recognize that tattoo culture was emerging from the underground and rocketing into the mainstream. He is the editor of alternative culture magazine Bizarre.